Golden Goose Launches Yatay Sneaker Made With Biodegradable Components for Earth Day

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Golden Goose has released the latest version of its sustainably-minded Yatay sneaker for Earth Day.

According to the Italian footwear company, the new Yatay Model 1B is entirely made in Italy and crafted with animal-free materials. The genderless style is made of Yatay B, a bio-based material, as well as recycled polyester and biodegradable rubber components, Golden Goose said in a statement on Monday.

The bio-based upper in Yatay B material is colored black through the use of a renewable algae-derived pigment. This animal-free sneaker features a black “Y” to symbolize the principle of circularity, running along the entire shoe from one side to the other. Plus, the biodegradable sole is hand-engraved, making each piece unique and bearing the brand’s unmistakable lived-in signature.

Golden Goose noted that every left heel tab on each pair of Yatay Model 1B has a unique number embossed. With this code each member of the Golden Goose community can improve their footprint through a QR code printed on the recycled and recyclable box – which serves the purpose of both a shoe box and a shipping package to reduce waste. By entering the code, users gain access to a dedicated area to plant a tree and monitor its growth.

This newest launch is the latest iteration of the Italian brand’s Yatay sneaker. In 2022, Golden Goose teamed up with Italian materials production company Coronet to debut the style for Earth Day that year.

The name Yatay comes from a particular species of palm called Butia Yatay and is a palindrome that symbolizes the principle of circularity, the company said.

At the time of this new partnership, Golden Goose and Coronet aimed to create innovations and provide positive social and economic impact, while maintaining the lowest environmental footprint. The footwear brand also said at the time of the first launch that its partnership with Coronet will allow continuous testing phases, directly verifying the results on the Golden Goose products, collecting consumers’ feedback, and subsequently making the innovations available for the rest of the industry.

The new Golden Goose Yatay Model 1B in black, which retails for $350, is now available exclusively at goldengoose.com.